Display unit and electronic apparatus

ABSTRACT

There are provided a display unit and an electronic apparatus that are capable of preventing color mixture in adjacent color pixels, and improving color reproducibility and chromaticity viewing angle. The display unit includes: a drive substrate having a plurality of pixels with a partition therebetween; and a first light shielding film provided on the partition.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation of application Ser. No.16/294,418, filed Mar. 6, 2019, which is a Continuation of applicationSer. No. 15/981,494, filed May 16, 2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,263,061,issued Apr. 16, 2019, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No.15/408,627, filed Jan. 18, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,991,325, issuedJun. 5, 2018, which is a Continuation of application Ser. No.14/541,774, filed Nov. 14, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,577,018, issuedFeb. 21, 2017, and claims the benefit of Japanese Priority PatentApplication JP 2013-272926 filed Dec. 27, 2013, the entire contents ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a display unit emitting light with useof organic electroluminescence (EL) phenomenon, and to an electronicapparatus provided with the display unit.

Along with increasing pace of development of information andcommunication industry, a high-performance display element is demanded.In the circumstances, an organic EL element attracting attention as anext generation display element has advantages of high response speed inaddition to wide viewing angle and excellent contrast, as aself-light-emitting display element.

In a display unit provided with the organic EL elements (the lightemitting elements), a plurality of pixels are arranged in a displayregion, and for example, the organic EL element emitting red light (ared pixel R), green light (a green pixel G), or blue light (a blue pixelB) is provided in each of the pixels. In addition, a color element (acolor filter) corresponding to each color pixel is provided on a countersurface of each organic EL element, which improves color purity of lightextracted from the display unit.

Typically, a black matrix is provided between color elements in order toprevent color mixture from adjacent color pixels. However, light emittedfrom a light emitting element in an oblique direction (obliquely-emittedlight) passes through the black matrix and enters the color pixelsadjacently provided (adjacent color pixels), and thus causes degradationof color purity. Therefore, for example, in Japanese Unexamined PatentApplication Publication Nos. 2005-294057 and 2005-293946, display unitsin which a black matrix is formed to have a thickness larger than thatof a color filter to shield obliquely-entering light are disclosed.Moreover, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent ApplicationPublication Nos. 2007-220395 and 2009-104969, display units in which ablack matrix is formed on a color filter to decrease a distance betweenthe black matrix and a light emission surface, and thus color mixture issuppressed are disclosed. On the other hand in Japanese UnexaminedPatent Application Publication No. 2006-243171, a liquid crystal displayunit in which a light shielding resin film (a black matrix) is formed ona thin film covering a colorant (corresponding to a color filter) tosuppress color mixture is disclosed.

SUMMARY

However, it is technically difficult to form a black matrix with largerthickness than that of the color filter. Moreover, even if the blackmatrix is formed on the color filter, a distance between a lightemission surface and the black matrix is decreased only by a filmthickness of the color filter, and therefore, sufficient color mixtureprevention effect is not obtained. Further, since the color filter isvaried in film thickness depending on color pixel, whichdisadvantageously causes variation in chromaticity viewing angle foreach color.

It is desirable to provide a display unit and an electronic apparatusthat are capable of preventing color mixture in adjacent color pixels,and improving color reproducibility and chromaticity viewing angle.

According to an embodiment of the technology, there is provided adisplay unit including: a drive substrate having a plurality of pixelswith a partition therebetween; and a first light shielding film providedon the partition.

According to an embodiment of the technology, there is provided anelectronic apparatus provided with a display unit. The display unitincludes: a drive circuit having a plurality of pixels with a partitiontherebetween; and a first light shielding film provided on thepartition.

In the display unit and the electronic apparatus according to therespective embodiments of the technology, the first shielding film isprovided on the partition that is provided between the pixels, whichsuppresses entering, to the adjacent color pixels (specifically, thecolor pixels adjacently provided), of emitted light (obliquely-emittedlight) that is emitted at a large emission angle and thus may enter theadjacent pixels.

In the display unit and the electronic apparatus according to therespective embodiments of the technology, the first light shielding filmis provided on the partition provided between the pixels. Therefore, itis possible to shield the obliquely-emitted light to prevent occurrenceof color mixture in the adjacent color pixels. Consequently, it ispossible to provide the display unit and the electronic apparatus thathave high chromaticity viewing angle and high color reproducibility.Note that the effects described here are not necessarily limited, andeffects described in the present disclosure may be obtained.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description are exemplary, and are intended toprovide further explanation of the technology as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitutea part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments and,together with the specification, serve to explain the principles of thetechnology.

FIG. 1 is a sectional diagram illustrating a structure of a display unitaccording to a first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating a shape of a light shielding film inthe display unit illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram explaining an effect of the display unitillustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an entire configuration of the displayunit illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram illustrating an example of a pixel drivecircuit illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional diagram illustrating a structure of a display unitaccording to a second embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram explaining an effect of the display unitillustrated in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a sectional diagram illustrating a structure of a display unitaccording to a modification of the first embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a sectional diagram illustrating a structure of a display unitaccording to a modification of the second embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 10 is a sectional diagram illustrating a structure of a displayunit according to a third embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating an example of an appearanceof an application example 1 of the display unit according to any of theabove-described embodiments and the like.

FIG. 11B is a perspective view illustrating another example of theappearance of the application example 1 illustrated in FIG. 11A.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of anapplication example 2.

FIG. 13A is a front view, a left side view, a right side view, a topview, and a bottom view of an application example 3 in a closed state.

FIG. 13B is a front view and a side view of the application example 3illustrated in FIG. 13A in an open state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, some embodiments, modifications, and application examplesof the disclosure will be described in detail with reference todrawings. Note that description will be given in the following order.

-   1. First embodiment (an example in which a light shielding film is    formed on a top surface of a partition)    -   1-1. Basic structure    -   1-2. Entire configuration of display unit    -   1-3. Manufacturing method    -   1-4. Function and effects-   2. Second embodiment (an example in which a second light shielding    film is added between a light shielding film on a partition and a    BM)-   3. Modifications (an example in which a light shielding film is    formed on a top surface and an inclined surface of a partition)-   4. Third embodiment (an example in which a reflective light    shielding film is formed on a partition)-   5. Application examples (examples of an electronic apparatus)

1. First Embodiment

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a sectional structure of a display unit(a display unit 1) according to a first embodiment of the disclosure.The display unit 1 may be used as, for example, a television receiver,and as illustrated in FIG. 4, a display region 110A and a peripheralregion 110B that is provided on the periphery thereof are provided on adrive substrate 11. The display unit 1 includes a plurality of pixels 2(for example, a red pixel 2R, a green pixel 2G, and a blue pixel 2B)that are arranged in a matrix in the display region 110A. In each of thepixels 2R, 2G, and 2B, a light emitting element 10 (a red light emittingelement 10R, a green light emitting element 10G, and a blue lightemitting element 10B, respectively) emitting corresponding single light(red light LR, green light LG, and blue light LB, respectively) isprovided. The display unit 1 is a display unit of a top light emissiontype (so-called top emission type) that allows light emitted from thelight emitting element 10 to be extracted from a top surface (a surfaceon a side opposite to the drive substrate 11) side. The peripheralregion 110B is provided with a signal line drive circuit 120 and a scanline drive circuit 130 that are drivers for picture display.

1-1. Basic Structure

As illustrated in FIG. 1, in the display unit 1, each of the pixels 2R,2G, and 2B is segmented by a partition 13 provided on the drivesubstrate 11. Color filters (CF) 22R, 22G, and 22B are provided onpositions corresponding to the respective pixels 2R, 2G, and 2B (on thelight emitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10B) on a counter surface of acounter substrate 20 that is provided oppositely to the drive substrate11. A black matrix (BM) 21 that prevents color mixture from adjacentcolor pixels is provided between the CFs 22R, 22G, and 22B. In the firstembodiment, the display unit 1 has a structure in which a lightshielding film 14 (a first light shielding film) is provided on a topsurface (specifically, a position facing the BM 21) of the partition 13.

Each of the light emitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10B has a pixelelectrode 12 as an anode, an organic layer 15 including a light emittinglayer 15B, and a counter electrode 16 as a cathode that are stacked inorder from the drive substrate 11 side provided with a drive transistorTr1 and the like of the pixel drive circuit 140 (see FIG. 4 and FIG. 5).The partition 13 is provided between the light emitting elements 10R,10G, and 10B, and the above-described light shielding film 14 isprovided on the partition 13 and between the partition 13 and theorganic layer 15 configuring the light emitting element 10.

Such light emitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10B are covered with aprotection film 17 and a planarizing film 18, and further, the countersubstrate 20 is bonded to the entire planarizing film 18 with anadhesive layer (not illustrated) in between. Note that the countersubstrate 20 has the BM 21 and the CF 22 on the counter surface to thedrive substrate 11, and an overcoat (OC) 23 is provided on the CF 22.

The pixel electrode 12 also has a function as a reflection layer, andmay desirably have a reflectance as high as possible in order to enhancelight emission efficiency. In particular, when the pixel electrode 12 isused as an anode, the pixel electrode 12 may be desirably formed of amaterial with higher hole injection property. For example, such a pixelelectrode 12 may have a thickness in a stacked-layer direction (in theX-axis direction) (hereinafter, simply referred to as a thickness) ofabout 100 nm or more and about 1000 nm or less, and may be formed of asimple substance of a metal element of chromium (Cr), gold (Au),platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), tungsten (W), silver (Ag), andthe like or an alloy containing any of these metal elements. Atransparent conductive film formed of an indium tin oxide (ITO) or thelike may be provided on a surface of the pixel electrode 12.Incidentally, as with an aluminum (Al) alloy, a material that has anissue of a hole injection barrier due to presence of an oxide film onthe surface thereof and small work function while having highreflectance may be used as the pixel electrode 12 by providing anappropriate hole injection layer.

The partition 13 segments the pixels 2R, 2G, and 2B as described above,and electrically separates the light emitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10Bfrom one another. An opening section 13A that is a light emitting regionfor each of the pixels 2R, 2G, and 2B is provided in the partition 13.Although detail will be described later, an organic layer 15 including alight emitting layer 15B (a red light emitting layer 15BR, a green lightemitting layer 15BG, or a blue light emitting layer 15BB) configuringthe corresponding light emitting element 10R, 10G, or 10B is provided inthe opening section 13A. Examples of the material of the partition 13may include, for example, an organic material such as polyimide, anovolak resin, and an acrylic resin. However, the material of thepartition 13 is not limited thereto, and for example, the organicmaterial and an inorganic material may be combined and used. Examples ofthe inorganic material may include SiO₂, SiO, SiC, and SiN. For example,although the partition 13 may be formed as a single layer film of theabove-described organic material, may be formed to have a stacked-layerstructure of an organic film and an inorganic film when the organicmaterial and the inorganic material are combined. Incidentally, theorganic layer 15 and the counter electrode 16 are provided also on thepartition 13; however, light is emitted from only the light emittingregion.

In the first embodiment, the partition 13 includes the top surface thathas a flat plane parallel to the drive substrate 11, and includes a sidesurface (an inclined surface) that is inclined in a forward taperedshape. The light shielding film 14 is provided on the top surface of thepartition 13.

The light shielding film 14 is provided on the top surface of thepartition 13 as described above, and as illustrated in FIG. 2, has alattice shape segmenting each of the pixels 2R, 2G, and 2B as viewedfrom the flat plane. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the light shielding film14 prevents obliquely-emitted light (for example, Lm2) that may causecolor mixture in adjacent color pixels, out of light emitted from thelight emitting layer 15B, from entering the adjacent color pixels. Awidth (D2) of the light shielding film 14 may be preferably larger thana width (D1) of the BM 21 described later. In other words, the lightshielding film 14 may be preferably formed so that an end surfacethereof is located on a pixel side rather than an end surface of theopening of the BM 21. As a result, it is possible to obtain high lightshielding effect with respect to the obliquely-emitted light that mayenter the adjacent color pixels. The thickness of the light shieldingfilm 14 may be, for example, about 0.1 μm or more and about 1 μm orless. A light absorbing material may be preferably used as the materialof the light shielding film 14, and for example, a material of the samekind as that of the BM 21 may be used for the light shielding film 14.Specifically, a carbon (C), chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃), and an alloy ofsamarium (Sm) and silver (Ag), or an organic material may be used. Thelight shielding film 14 may be configured as a single layer film or astacked-layer film formed of any of these materials. Examples of aspecific stacked-layer film may include a metal stacked-layer film suchas vanadium oxide (VO)/Ag or a stacked-layer film of an organic materialand a metal material such as Al/mixture of copper phthalocyanine and Al(CuPc:Al)/Al, Al/DCJTB/Al, and Al/DCJTB:CuPc:Al/Al.

Note that forming the light shielding film 14 by a light absorbingmaterial makes it possible to reduce external light reflection and toimprove contrast. Moreover, forming the light shielding film 14 by aconductive material and setting the light shielding film 14 and thecathode electrode (here, the counter electrode 16) to the same potential(for example, connecting to GND) makes it possible to prevent leakage ofa current into the adjacent color pixels. As a result it is possible toreduce color mixture caused by unintentional light emission of theadjacent color pixels due to the leakage current.

For example, the organic layer 15 may have a structure in which a holesupply layer 15A, the light emitting layer 15B, and an electron supplylayer 15C are stacked in order from the pixel electrode 12 side. Amongthem, layers other than the light emitting layer 15B may be provided asnecessary. The organic layer 15 may be different in structure dependingon the emitted color from the light emitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10B.For example, the hole supply layer 15A may have a structure in which alayer having a hole injection property (a hole injection layer) and alayer having a hole transport property (a hole transport layer) arestacked in this order from the pixel electrode 12 side. The holeinjection layer is a buffer layer that enhances hole injectionefficiency to the light emitting layer 15B and prevents leakage. Thehole transport layer enhances hole transport efficiency to the lightemitting layer 15B. In the light emitting layer 15B, electrons and holesare recombined by application of an electric field, and therefore lightis emitted. For example, the electron supply layer 15C may have astructure in which a layer having an electron transport property (anelectron transport layer) and a layer having an electron injectionproperty (an electron injection layer) are stacked in this order fromthe light emitting layer 15B side. The electron transport layer enhanceselectron transport efficiency to the light emitting layer 15B. Theelectron injection layer enhances electron injection efficiency.

In the hole supply layer 15A, the hole injection layer may have athickness of, for example, about 5 nm or more and about 300 nm or less,and may be formed of, for example, a hexa-aza triphenylene derivative.The hole transport layer may have a thickness of, for example, about 5nm or more and about 300 nm or less, and may be formed of bisRN-naphthyl)-N-phenyllbenzidine (α-NPD). The light emitting layer 15Bmay have a thickness of, for example, about 10 nm or more and about 100nm or less. For example, the red light emitting layer 15BR may beconfigured of a mixture obtained by mixing 40 vol % of2,6-bis[4-[N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N-phenyl]aminostyryl]naphthalene-1,5-dicarbonitrile(BSN-BCN) to 8-quinolinol aluminum complex (Alq3). In the electronsupply layer 15C, the electron transport layer may have a thickness of,for example, about 5 nm or more and about 300 nm or less, and may beformed of Alq3. The electron injection layer may have a thickness of,for example, about 0.3 nm, and may be formed of LiF, Li₂O, or the like.

The counter electrode 16 may have a thickness of, for example, about 10nm, and may be formed of an alloy of Al, magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca),or Ag. Among them, an alloy of Mg and Ag (Mg—Ag alloy) may be preferablebecause the alloy has conductivity and small absorption in a thin filmstate. A ratio of Mg and Ag in the Mg—Ag alloy is not particularlylimited; however, the ratio of Mg and Ag may be preferably within therange of Mg:Ag=20:1 to 1:1 in film thickness ratio. Moreover, thematerial of the counter electrode 16 may be an alloy of Al and lithium(Li) (Al—Li alloy).

Moreover, the counter electrode 16 may also have a function as asemipermeable reflective layer. When the counter electrode 16 has thefunction as the semipermeable reflective layer, the light emittingelement 10 has a resonator structure, and resonates light that isemitted from the light emitting layer 15B, between the pixel electrode12 and the counter electrode 16 with use of the resonator structure.

The protection layer 17 is formed on the counter electrode 16, and maybe formed of, for example, an inorganic material such as silicon oxide(SiO_(x)), silicon nitride (SiN_(x)), silicon oxynitride (SiN_(x)O_(y)),titanium oxide (TiO_(x)), and aluminum oxide (Al_(x)O_(y)).

The planarizing film 18 is formed on the protection film 17substantially uniformly. The planarizing film 18 may function also asthe above-described adhesive layer, and may be formed of, for example,an epoxy resin or an acrylic resin.

The counter substrate 20 seals the light emitting elements 10R, 10G, and10B, and is formed of a material such as glass having permeability tolight emitted from the light emitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10B. Forexample, the BM 21 and the CF 22 may be provided on a surface (anopposed surface) on the drive substrate 11 side of the counter substrate20. The BM 21 and the CF 22 extract light LR, LG, and LB that arerespectively emitted from the red light emitting element 10R, the greenlight emitting element 10G, and the blue light emitting element 10B, andabsorb external light that is reflected by the light emitting elements10R, 10G, and 10B and the wirings therebetween to improve contrast.

The BM 21 is provided at a position corresponding to between the pixels2R, 2G, and 2B (specifically, the partition 13) between the countersubstrate 20 and the CF 22. For example, the BM 21 may be formed of ablack resin film that is mixed with a black colorant and has opticaldensity of 1 or more, or a thin film filter using thin filminterference. Among them, the BM 21 may be preferably formed of theblack resin film because it is low in cost and is formed easily. Forexample, the thin film filter may be configured by stacking one or morethin films formed of a metal, a metal nitride, or a metal oxide, and mayattenuate light with use of the thin film interference. Specificexamples of the thin film filter may include a filter configured byalternately stacking Cr₂O₃ and one of C and Cr.

The CF 22 may include, for example, a red filter 22R, a green filter22G, and a blue filter 22B that are arranged corresponding to the lightemitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10B, respectively. The red filter 22R,the green filter 22G, and the blue filter 22B each may be formed in, forexample, a rectangular shape and are arranged without clearance. The redfilter 22R, the green filter 22G, and the blue filter 22B are eachformed of a resin mixed with a pigment, and are adjusted by selection ofthe pigment so that light transmittance in a target wavelength range ofred, green or blue becomes high and light transmittance in otherwavelength ranges becomes low.

The overcoat (OC) film 23 formed of a transparent insulating material ora transparent conductive material is provided on the BM 21 and the CF22. Examples of the insulating material may include, for example, anorganic material such as polyimide and acryl, and an inorganic materialsuch as silicon oxide (SiO_(x)), silicon nitride (SiN_(x)), siliconoxynitride (SiN_(x)O_(y)), titanium oxide (TiO_(x)), and aluminum oxide(Al_(x)O_(y)). Examples of the conductive material may include, forexample, ITO and IZO. Note that the OC 23 is not necessarily formed andmay be omitted.

1-2. Entire Configuration of Display Unit

FIG. 4 illustrates an entire configuration of the display unit 1. Asdescribed above, the display unit 1 has the signal line drive circuit120 and the scan line drive circuit 130 that are drivers for picturedisplay, in the peripheral region 110B on the periphery of the displayregion 110A. The pixel drive circuit 140 is provided in the displayregion 110A.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the pixel drive circuit 140. The pixeldrive circuit 140 is an active drive circuit formed in a lower layer ofthe pixel electrode 12. Specifically, the pixel drive circuit 140 has adrive transistor Tr1, a write transistor Tr2, a capacitor (a retentioncapacitance) Cs between the transistors Tr1 and Tr2, and the lightemitting element 10R (or 10G or 10B) that is connected in series to thedrive transistor Tr1 between a first power line (Vcc) and a second powerline (GND). The drive transistor Tr1 and the write transistor Tr2 areeach formed of a typical thin film transistor, and the structure thereofmay be, for example, an inversely staggered structure (so-called bottomgate type) or a staggered structure (a top gate type) without specificlimitation.

In the pixel drive circuit 140, a plurality of signal lines 120A areprovided in a column direction, and a plurality of scan lines 130A areprovided in a row direction. An intersection between each of the signallines 120A and each of the scan lines 130A corresponds to any one of thelight emitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10B (the pixels 2R, 2G, and 2B).Each of the signal lines 120A is connected to the signal line drivecircuit 120, and an image signal is supplied from the signal line drivecircuit 120 to a source electrode of the write transistor Tr2 throughthe signal line 120A. Each of the scan lines 130A is connected to thescan line drive circuit 130, and a scan signal is sequentially suppliedfrom the scan line drive circuit 130 to a gate electrode of the writetransistor Tr2 through the scan line 130A.

1-3. Manufacturing Method

The display unit 1 according to the first embodiment is manufacturedwith use of the following method.

First, the pixel drive circuit 140 including the pixel electrode 12 andthe drive transistor Tr1 is formed on the drive substrate 11 made of theabove-described material, and then a photosensitive resin is applied tothe entire surface of the drive substrate 11 to form a planarizinginsulating film (not illustrated). Next, the pixel electrode 12 made ofthe above-described material may be formed by, for example, sputtering,and the pixel electrode 12 is selectively removed by wet etching toseparate the pixel electrode 12 for each of the light emitting elements10R, 10G, and 10B.

Subsequently, for example, a photosensitive resin to be the partition 13may be applied on the entire surface of the drive circuit 11, and theopening section 13A corresponding to the light emitting region may beformed by, for example, photolithography, followed by firing to form thepartition 13. Next, the hole supply layer 15A, the light emitting layer15B, and the electron supply layer 15C of the organic layer 15 made ofthe above-described material with the above-described thickness may beformed by, for example, an evaporation method. Then, the counterelectrode 16 made of the above-described material with theabove-described thickness may be formed by, for example, the evaporationmethod. As a result, the light emitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10Billustrated in FIG. 1 are formed.

Subsequently, the protection film 17 made of the above-describedmaterial may be formed by, for example, a CVD method or sputtering onthe light emitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10B. Then, the planarizingfilm 18 is formed on the protection film 17, and the counter substrate20 that is provided with the CF 22 and the BM 21 covered with the OC 23is bonded to the drive substrate 11 with the planarizing film 18 (or anadhesive layer) in between. In this way, the display unit 1 illustratedin FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 is completed.

In the display unit 1, the scan signal is supplied from the scan linedrive circuit 13 to each of the pixels 2R, 2G, and 2B through the gateelectrode of the write transistor Tr2, and the image signal is retainedin the retention capacitance Cs from the signal line drive circuit 120through the write transistor Tr2. In other words, the drive transistorTr1 is controlled to be turned on or off in response to the signalretained by the retention capacitance Cs, and thus a drive current Id isinjected into the light emitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10B, whichcauses recombination of the holes and the electrons to emit light. Forexample, the light LR, LG, and LB are reflected multiply between thepixel electrode 12 and the counter electrode 16, or the reflected lightby the pixel electrode 12 and the light emitted from the light emittinglayer 15B reinforce each other by interference, and resultant light isextracted after passing through the counter electrode 16, the colorfilter 23, and the counter substrate 20.

1-4. Function and Effects

In the typical display unit, obliquely-entering light from adjacentcolor pixels is shielded by a black matrix (for example, the BM 21 inthe display unit 1) provided on the counter substrate side, andoccurrence of color mixture is suppressed. However, it is difficult tosufficiently shield the obliquely-entering light from the adjacent colorpixels depending on a distance (specifically, the thicknesses of therespective layers configuring the light emitting element, theplanarizing film, and the like) between a light emitting part(specifically, the light emitting layer) and an extraction part of theemitted light (for example, the opening of the black matrix), whichdisadvantageously causes degradation in chromaticity viewing angle dueto color mixture.

As a method of improving light shielding effect by the black matrix, amethod in which the width in the flat plane direction of the blackmatrix is increased, or a method in which the film thickness of theblack matrix is increased as described above are considered. However,there are disadvantages that luminance is decreased with decrease of anopening ratio and manufacturing is difficult in such methods.

In contrast, in the display unit 1 of the first embodiment, the lightshielding film 14 is provided on the partition 13 that segments each ofthe pixels 2R, 2G, and 2B. As a result, it is possible to further reduceentering of the obliquely-emitted light to the adjacent color pixels.Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 3, out of the light Lm that isemitted at a large emission angle to the X-axis direction and thus mayenter the adjacent color pixels, for example, obliquely-emitted lightLm1 emitted at the center part of the light emitting layer 15BG may beshielded by the BM 21 provided on the counter substrate 20. On the otherhand, for example, obliquely-emitted light Lm2 emitted on an outer sidethan the center part of the light emitting layer 15BG may not beshielded by the BM 21 provided on the counter substrate 20 side.However, as with the first embodiment, by forming the light shieldingfilm 14 on the partition 13, the obliquely-emitted light Lm2 is shieldedby the light shielding film 14.

Therefore, in the display unit 1 according to the first embodiment,since the light shielding film 14 is provided on the partition 13segmenting each of the pixels 2R, 2G, and 2B, it is possible to reduceoccurrence of color mixture by the obliquely-emitted light. Accordingly,it is possible to provide the display unit having high chromaticityviewing angle characteristics.

Moreover, in the first embodiment, the light shielding film 14 is formedof a light absorbing material, which makes it possible to reduceexternal light reflection, and thus contrast is allowed to be improved.Alternatively, the light shielding film 14 is formed using a conductivematerial, which makes it possible to prevent leakage of the current intothe adjacent color pixels. As a result, light emission of the adjacentcolor pixels due to electrical leakage is suppressed. Therefore, it ispossible to provide the display unit with higher color reproducibility.

Next, a second embodiment and modifications will be described.Hereinafter, like numerals are used to designate substantially likecomponents of the above-described first embodiment, and the descriptionthereof is appropriately omitted.

2. Second Embodiment

FIG. 6 illustrates a sectional structure of a display unit 3 accordingto the second embodiment of the disclosure. Similarly to theabove-described first embodiment, the display unit 3 may be used as, forexample, a television receiver, and may be a top emission type displayunit allowing emitted light to be extracted from a top surface side. Thedisplay unit 3 according to the second embodiment is different from theabove-described first embodiment in that a light shielding film 24 (asecond light shielding film) is formed between the BM 21 provided on thecounter substrate 20 side and the light shielding film 14 provided onthe partition 13 that is provided in the above-described firstembodiment.

The light shielding film 24 is provided in a region where the lightshielding film 14 provided on the partition 13 as described above facesthe BM 21 provided on the counter substrate 20 side. Specifically, forexample, the light shielding film 24 may be provided on a surface on thedrive substrate 11 side of the OC 23, and may have a lattice shape tosegment each of the pixels 2R, 2G, and 2B, similarly to the lightshielding film 14 and the BM 21. When the light shielding film 24 isformed to have a width (D3) larger than the width (D1) of the BM 21, thelight shielding film 24 is allowed to effectively shield theobliquely-emitted light that may enter the adjacent color pixels (seeFIG. 7). Note that, to maintain a viewing angle at which vignetting iscaused by the BM 21, the width (D3) of the light shielding film 24 maybe preferably, for example, (d2×D4+d1×D1)/(d1+d2) or lower. A thicknessof the light shielding film 24 may be preferably, for example, about 0.1μm or more and about 1 μm or lower. The material of the same kind asthat of the light shielding film 14 and the BM 21 may be used as thematerial of the light shielding film 24.

As described above, in the second embodiment, the light shielding film24 is provided in the region where the light shielding film 14 on thepartition 13 faces the BM 21 on the counter substrate 20. Therefore, asillustrated in FIG. 7, out of the obliquely-emitted light Lm emittedfrom the light emitting layer 15B, light that is not shielded by thelight shielding film 14 and the BM 21 (for example, Lm2 and Lm1) isallowed to be shielded. Therefore, it is possible to reduce occurrenceof color mixture caused by emitted light (obliquely-emitted light) thatis emitted at a large emission angle and thus may enter the adjacentcolor pixels, and therefore to provide the display unit with higherchromaticity viewing angle characteristics.

3. Modifications

FIG. 8 illustrates a sectional structure of a display unit 4 accordingto a modification of the above-described first embodiment. The displayunit 4 according to the present modification is different from theabove-described first embodiment in that a light shielding film 34provided on the partition 13 is formed in a region wider than that ofthe light shielding film 14 of the above-described first embodiment,more specifically, the light shielding film 34 is formed on the entiretop surface and the entire inclined surface of the partition 13.

As described above, in the display unit 4 according to the presentmodification, the light shielding film 34 may be provided on the entiretop surface and the entire inclined surface of the partition 13. As aresult, it is possible to obtain effect that external light reflectionis further suppressed, in addition to the effects of the above-describedembodiment.

Moreover, light emitted in the vicinity of an end surface of the lightemitting layer 15B passes through the partition 13 and then enters theadjacent color pixels, and is reflected or scattered by the side surface(the inclined surface) of the partition 13 that segments the adjacentpixel, to generate color mixture. In the present modification, since theinclined surface of the partition 13 is also covered with the lightshielding film 34, it is possible to prevent the light emitted in thevicinity of the end surface from entering (being leaked into) theadjacent color pixels. Accordingly, it is possible to further reduceoccurrence of color mixture. Covering the entire partition 13 with thelight shielding film 34 makes it possible to reduce intrusion ofmoisture and gas such as oxygen from the partition 13 to the organiclayer 15. As a result, it is possible to improve reliability of thelight emitting element 10 and the display unit provided with the lightemitting element 10.

Incidentally, the present modification may be applied to theabove-described second embodiment as with a display unit 5 illustratedin FIG. 9.

4. Third Embodiment

FIG. 10 illustrates a sectional structure of a display unit 6 accordingto a third embodiment of the disclosure. The display unit 6 is a topemission type display unit that allows emitted light to be extractedfrom a top surface side, similar to the above-described first embodimentand the like. The display unit 6 of the third embodiment is differentfrom the above-described first embodiment in that a light shielding film44 having light reflectivity is provided on the partition 13 and theblack matrix typically provided on the counter substrate 20 side isomitted. With this configuration, the display unit 6 is allowed to beused as a so-called mirror display that is usable as a mirror innon-display state.

The light shielding film 44 is provided on the partition 13 as describedabove. Specifically, the light shielding film 44 is provided on the topsurface and the inclined surface of the partition 13. The lightshielding film 44 may be formed of a material having light reflectivity,and for example, a simple substance of a metal element such as Al, Cr,gold (Au), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), Cu, tungsten (W), and Ag, or analloy containing these metal elements may be used for the lightshielding film 44. It is sufficient for the light shielding film 44 tohave a thickness allowing the light entered from the outside (externallight) to be reflected, and for example, the thickness of the lightshielding film 44 may be about 0.1 μm or more and about 1 μm or less.

Incidentally, when a material having conductivity is used as thematerial of the light shielding film 44, the light shielding film 44 maybe preferably formed so that the end surface of the light shielding film44 is not in contact with the pixel electrode 12. Moreover, thestructure on the counter substrate 20 side may be preferably a structureas illustrated in FIG. 10 because the black matrix is omitted.Specifically, CFs 42R, 42G, and 42B of a CF 42 may be preferably formedindependently of one another on the counter substrate 20 so that aclearance is formed at a position corresponding to the partition 13.Moreover an overcoat (OC) 43 is provided on the CF 42 so that theclearance between the CFs 42R, 42G, and 42B in order to improveadhesiveness of the counter substrate 20 and the CF 42.

As described above, in the display unit 6 according to the thirdembodiment, the light shielding film 44 having light reflectivity isprovided on the partition 13. As a result, similarly to theabove-described first embodiment and the like, it is possible to shieldthe obliquely-emitted light that may enter the adjacent color pixels,and it is possible to provide a display unit that has high chromaticityviewing angle characteristics and is usable as a mirror in a non-displaystate.

5. Application Examples

Application examples of the display units 1 and 3 to 6 described in theabove-described first to third embodiments and the modifications aredescribed. The display units 1 and 3 to 6 are applicable to electronicapparatuses in every field, such as a television receiver, a digitalcamera, a notebook personal computer, a mobile terminal such as a mobilephone, and a video camera. As described above, the display unitaccording to any of the above-described embodiments and the like isapplicable to electronic apparatuses in every field that displays apicture signal input from the outside or a picture signal internallygenerated as an image or a picture.

Incidentally, the present technology exerts higher effects in alarge-scale television receiver with high definition, a medical display,and electronic apparatuses having a high-pitched display panel such as asmartphone and a mobile phone.

Application Example 1

FIG. 11A illustrates an example of an appearance of a smartphone, andFIG. 11B illustrates another example of an appearance of a smartphone.For example, the smartphone may include a display section 110 (thedisplay unit 1 (or any of the display units 3 to 6)), a non-displaysection (a housing) 120, and an operation section 130. The operationsection 130 may be provided on a front surface of the non-displaysection 120 as illustrated in FIG. 11A, or may be provided on a topsurface as illustrated in FIG. 11B.

Application Example 2

FIG. 12 illustrates an appearance of a television receiver according toan application example 2. For example, the television receiver may havea picture display screen section 200 that includes a front panel 210 anda filter glass 220, and the picture display screen section 200corresponds to any of the above-described display units 1 and 3 to 6.

Application Example 3

FIG. 13A is a front view, a left side view, a right side view, a topview, and a bottom view of a mobile phone according to an applicationexample 3 in a closed state. FIG. 13B is a front view and a side view ofthe mobile phone in an open state. For example, the mobile phone may beconfigured by connecting an upper housing 310 and a lower housing 320with a connecting section (a hinge section) 330, and may include adisplay 340, a sub-display 350, a picture light 360, and a camera 370.The display 340 or the sub-display 350 corresponds to any of theabove-described display units 1 and 3 to 6.

Hereinbefore, although the technology has been described with referringto the first to third embodiments and the modifications, the technologyis not limited to the above-described embodiments and the like, andvarious modifications may be made. For example, the materials and thethickness of the respective layers, the film formation method, the filmformation condition, and the like that are described in theabove-described embodiments and the like are not limited thereto, andother materials and other thicknesses may be used, and other filmformation methods and formation conditions may be used.

Further, each of the layers described in the above-described embodimentsand the like is not necessarily provided, and may be appropriatelyomitted. Moreover, a layer other than the layers descried in theabove-described embodiments and the like may be added. Furthermore, thedisplay unit provided with the three color pixels of the red pixel 2R,the green pixel 2G, and the blue pixel 2B as the color pixels has beendescribed as an example in the above-described embodiments and the like.However, a white pixel or a yellow pixel may be combined with thesethree color pixels.

Moreover, in the above-described embodiments and the like, theconfiguration in which the light emitting elements 10R, 10G, and 10Bemit single color light corresponding to the pixels 2R, 2G, and 2B,respectively has been employed. However, a configuration of emittingwhite light may be employed. Further, although the organic EL elementhas been described as the light emitting element 10 in theabove-described embodiments and the like, an inorganic EL element, asemiconductor layer, a light emitting diode (an LED), and the like maybe used.

Incidentally, the effects described in the present specification aremerely examples without limitation, and other effects may be obtainable.

Note that the technology may be configured as follows.

(1) A display unit including:

a drive substrate having a plurality of pixels with a partitiontherebetween; and

a first light shielding film provided on the partition.

(2) The display unit according to (1), wherein

each of the pixels includes a light emitting layer, and has an organiclayer that is at least partially provided as a layer common to theplurality of pixels, and

the first light shielding film is provided between the partition and theorganic layer.

(3) The display unit according to (1) or (2), wherein

the partition has a flat top surface and an inclined side surface, and

the first light shielding film is provided on the flat top surface ofthe partition.

(4) The display unit according to (1) or (2), wherein

the partition has a flat top surface and an inclined side surface, and

the first light shielding film is provided on the flat top surface andthe inclined side surface.

(5) The display unit according to any one of (1) to (4), furtherincluding

a black matrix provided on a counter substrate side and having anopening at a position corresponding to the pixel, the counter substratebeing disposed to face the drive substrate, wherein

the first light shielding film has an end surface on a pixel side ratherthan an end surface of the opening of the black matrix as viewed from adisplay surface.

(6) The display unit according to (5), further including

a second light shielding film between the first light shielding film andthe black matrix.

(7) The display unit according to any one of (1) to (6), wherein thefirst light shielding film has light absorbing property.

(8) The display unit according to (7), wherein the first light shieldingfilm is formed of carbon (C), chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃), and an alloy ofsamarium (Sm) and silver (Ag), or an organic material.

(9) The display unit according to any one of (1) to (8), wherein thefirst light shielding film has light reflectivity.

(10) The display unit according to (9), wherein the first lightshielding film contains one or more of aluminum (Al), chromium (Cr),gold (Au), platinum (Pt), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), tungsten (W), andsilver (Ag).

(11) The display unit according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein lightemitted from the light emitting layer is different by pixels.

(12) The display unit according to any one of (1) to (10), wherein lightemitted from the light emitting layer is white light.

(13) An electronic apparatus provided with a display unit, the displayunit including:

a drive circuit having a plurality of pixels with a partitiontherebetween; and

a first light shielding film provided on the partition.

It should be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications, combinations, sub-combinations, and alterations may occurdepending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they arewithin the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

1. (canceled)
 2. A display device comprising: a substrate; and aplurality of light emitting elements including a first light emittingelement and a second light emitting element with a partitiontherebetween, wherein the first light emitting element includes a firstanode electrode, a first portion of a cathode electrode layer, and afirst portion of an organic layer, the second light emitting elementincludes a second anode electrode, a second portion of the cathodeelectrode layer, and a second portion of the organic layer, at least onepart of the first portion of the organic layer and at least one part ofthe second portion of the organic layer are a continuous same layer, afirst light shielding film is provided between the first light emittingelement and the second light emitting element from a plan viewperspective, a second light shielding film is provided between the firstlight emitting element and the second light emitting element in the planview perspective, the second light shielding film being disposed at thelight extraction side of the partition from a cross-section viewperspective, the first light shielding film is disposed between thesecond light shielding film and the partition, the first light shieldingfilm overlaps the second light shielding film, and the first lightshielding film includes a conductive material, and the second lightshielding film includes a conductive material.
 3. The display deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the first light shielding film is directlyin contact with the partition.
 4. The display device according to claim2, wherein the second light shielding film is disposed at a lightextraction side of a plurality of color filters, and the second lightshielding film overlaps with a boundary of two of the plurality of colorfilters which respectively correspond to the first light emittingelement and the second light emitting element.
 5. The display deviceaccording to claim 4, further comprising: an insulating layer betweenthe plurality of color filters and the cathode electrode layer, theplurality of color filters being in contact with the insulating layer.6. The display device according to claim 4, wherein the display deviceis a top-emission type display device, and a first light emitted fromthe first portion of the organic layer and a second light emitted fromthe second portion of the organic layer are extracted through thecathode electrode layer.
 7. The display device according to claim 6,wherein the substrate, the first and second anode electrodes, the firstlight shielding layer, the cathode electrode layer, the plurality ofcolor filters, and the second light shielding layer are stacked in thisorder in a light extraction direction.
 8. The display device accordingto claim 4, wherein the first light shielding film is set to apredetermined potential.
 9. The display device according to claim 4,wherein the first light shielding film includes at least one ofaluminum, chromium, gold, platinum, nickel, copper, tungsten or silver.10. The display device according to claim 4, wherein the first lightemitting element and the second light emitting element emit white light.11. The display device according to claim 4, wherein the organic layerincludes a common layer.
 12. The display device according to claim 11,wherein the organic layer includes a first color light emitting layerand a second color light emitting layer.
 13. The display deviceaccording to claim 12, wherein the first color light emitting layer andthe second color light emitting layer are separated from each other. 14.The display device according to claim 4, wherein the first lightemitting element and the second light emitting element emit differentcolor light.